Late Score the Difference as No. 23 Virginia Tech Downs Miami
Nov. 4, 2006
MIAMI (AP) – Brandon Ore ran for two touchdowns, including an 8-yard game-winner with 1:39 left to carry No. 23 Virginia Tech past Miami 17-10 on Saturday night.
Both of Ore’s scores were set up by Miami interceptions, one thrown by Kirby Freeman in the second quarter, the other off a deflected Kyle Wright pass with 3:33 left.
Ore came in with more than 200 yards in each of his last two games, and finished with only 79 yards on 28 carries against the Hurricanes. But he got 16 yards on a crucial third-and-10 with just over 2 minutes remaining, then scored two plays later to put the Hokies ahead for good.
Wright was intercepted again with 1:21 left by Virginia Tech’s Brandon Flowers – who also picked Freeman off earlier – and the Hokies (7-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ran out the clock.
Tyrone Moss had 103 yards on 13 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown run, for Miami. Jon Peattie kicked a 55-yard field goal, aided by a strong breeze wind, in the third quarter for the Hurricanes.
Virginia Tech managed 139 yards in the game, yet that was enough as Miami (5-4, 2-3) continued to struggle offensively. Wright was 14-for-29 for 84 yards and two interceptions.
Moss, who became Miami’s primary back after starter Javarris James left early in the second quarter with a hip pointer, got the Hurricanes’ lone touchdown on a spectacular play.
On third-and-1 from midfield, Moss went up the middle and was met by Virginia Tech linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi. But Moss kept his legs moving, spun to his left off the mass of bodies and found a clear path all the way into the end zone, tying the game at 10 with 11:10 remaining.
It would be the final highlight for Miami, which hadn’t endured a four-loss season since 1999.
After netting only 25 yards in their first 16 plays – and with a regular stream of boos raining down after Miami failed to convert any of its first four third-down opportunities – the Hurricanes sent Freeman in to replace Wright at quarterback.
And it paid immediate dividends – sort of.
Freeman ran 31 yards on his first play, going around the left side and then cutting back toward the middle of the field to more than double Miami’s total yardage to that point.
But three plays later, when Freeman dropped back for his first pass, he was intercepted by Flowers and after a 24-yard runback the Hokies took over at Miami’s 36.
From there, it didn’t take long for Virginia Tech to deliver the game’s first touchdown.
On the opening play of the possession, quarterback Sean Glennon found Josh Morgan – who broke through three Miami tacklers and rumbled about 10 more yards before getting hauled down by two more Hurricanes at the 6. Ore went in from the 2-yard line two plays later, and Virginia Tech was up 10-0.
Wright went back in on Miami’s next possession, but the Hurricanes’ luck stayed largely the same until the fourth quarter. Miami came in with one touchdown in its last 20 offensive series, and that streak extended into a 1-for-29 drought until Moss’ fourth-quarter burst.
The Hokies opened the scoring with 7:21 left in the half on Brandon Pace’s 32-yard field goal. It was his 16th straight successful kick, tying the second-longest streak in ACC history.
